Would phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits. Would eliminate the 24-month waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions (in the same way as for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Target population(s)
Uninsured individuals, generally under 65, who are disabled or who are faced with a life threatening condition.
Eligibility
Two groups of individuals would be eligible for Medicare. For individuals who are determined to be disabled for Social Security, the 24-month waiting period for Medicare that now applies would be phased out over ten years. The waiting period would decline initially to 18 months in 2010 and then decline by 2 additional months each year so that in 2019 and thereafter, a disabled individual would have no waiting period.
Individuals determined to have a life-threatening condition would be not be subject to any waiting period for Medicare. The Secretary would be required to compile a list of conditions that are fatal without medical treatment. In compiling such a list, the Secretary would have to consult with the National Institutes of Health (including the Office of Rare Diseases), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Science Foundation and the National Academy of Sciences and annually review the compassionate allowances list of conditions of the Social Security Administration.
Public program(s) affected
Medicare
Type of coverage
Medicare benefits.
Premiums
Enrollee would pay the monthly Part B premium.
Government subsidies
Same as current law subsidies for Medicare Parts A, B and D. Benefit payments would be made from the Medicare HI and SMI Trust Funds.
Financing
Same as current law financing for Medicare (i.e., HI payroll tax, general revenues, and beneficiary premiums.)
Effective date
90 days after the date of enactment but in no case earlier than January 1, 2010.
Other provisions in bill
Requires the Secretary of HHS to request the Institute of Medicine to conduct a study on the range of disability conditions that can be delayed or prevented if individuals receive access to health care services and coverage before the condition reaches disability levels. Requires the Secretary within 2 years of enactment to report to Congress on the results of the study. Authorizes $750,000 for Fiscal years 2010 and 2011 to support the study.